'The Years Between' is an oral history of RVIB 1866 - 1991. It was put together by Allan Nuske and Jamie Kelly and consists of narration and excerpts of oral histories from past staff/students. Through historical data and personal recollections, former students tell the story of how the institution developed under the changing approaches of teachers and other staff, the need to keep fundraising, being shipped to Olinda during the war, 153 MP3 audio recordings comprising a file for each section of the bookMany thanks to Alan Nuske, Betty Vinters, Jon Lock, Ross Johnstone, Simon von Saldern, Leo Hartman, Elaine Leahy, Mary Adams, Ben Quin, Kasia Graphics, Art Attack, June Treadwell, Jamie Kelly, Neville Kerr, Dorothy Hamilton, family and friends of Alan Nuske, Pam McAleese and Julie Brain.royal victorian institute for the blind, allan nuske, jamie kelly, alice mcclelland, john murphy, harry worland, dorothy hamilton, hugh jeffrey, violet arnett, ian cooper, harry finlayson, elaine leahy, joan neich, reuban ryan, neville kerr, e.e. (ted) petersen, neil westh, norman rees, charlie bradley, ethel sutcliffe, esme dunnell, margaret fialides, carol baxter, ben quin, graeme mcgowan, margaret bull, jim smith, dick sutcliffe, ray smart, george findlay, edward (ted) hanlon, david blyth, martin stewart, len stevens, oral history

Sister Elizabeth Lindsey worked at the RVIB Nursery since it's inception in 1933. During her time there, she took photographs of the children, whom she had care of, documenting their life at RVIB as well as the wartime displacement to Olinda when the army took over the St Kilda Road building. Adopting one of her orphan charges, Sister Lindsay left RVIB in 1945. See the notes section for individual descriptions.1 x black photograph album with coloured embossed cover containing photographs, a newspaper clipping and card.barry farnsworth, brian sitlington, douglas clarkson, bobby bolter, ben hewitt, bill henderson, norm white, jessie rita, mae rita, thelma stewart, peggy penhall, helen boyd, heather stewart, margaret russell, lois allen, ian cooper, monty james, angelo harris, pamela wegg, nurse babs, nurse pierce, jimmy schultz, bertie glenister, margaret seary, alan nuske, harry parsons, shirley devine, joan morice, david ditchfield, don smith, nurse blair, alan woods, alan crotty, elaine dean (later leahy), hilda gammon, elaine mckenna, cyril minns, ernest wilson, gladys moncrieff, marjory pyvis, rvib nursery, sister elizabeth lindsey

Sister Elizabeth Lindsey worked at the RVIB Nursery from it's inception in 1933. During this time, she took photographs of the children, whom she had care of, documenting their life at RVIB as well as the wartime displacement to Olinda when the army took over the St Kilda Road building. Adopting one of her orphan charges, Sister Lindsay left RVIB in 1945. 58 digital files of photographs.rvib nursery, monty james, angelo harris, jimmy schultz, ian cooper, bertie glenister, alan crotty, harry parsons, shirley devine, helen boyd, alan woods, joan morice, david ditchfield, elaine dean (later leahy), cynthia walker, matron jessie morrison, barbara spencer, mae rita, margaret russell, jessie rita, pearl tropman, margaret seary, heather stewart, mrs jenkins, gwen baird, hilda gammon, bobby bolter, judith king, joan ryan, olinda

Group photos of the Association for the Blind 1994-95 Board members, taken for the annual report. The board comprised of: Norma Crook, Don Draffin, Henry Malycon, Terry Cocks, Marjorie West, Robin Pleydell (Vice President), John Moule (President), Malcolm Daubney, Eve Lustig (Vice President), Graham Upton (Treasurer), Jeremy Wurm, Michael Gorton, Elizabeth Judd, Claire Proctor, John Cook (CEO) and Elaine Leahy (who was absent from the shoot)10 x Col. transparencies of AFB Board membersassociation for the blind, norma crook, don draffin, henry malycon, terry cocks, marjorie west, robin pleydell, john moule, malcolm daubney, eve lustig, graham upton, jeremy wurm, michael gorton, elizabeth judd, claire proctor, john cook

Coin collections have a long and varied history. Coins were often collected in churches in a box located near the entrance/exit, and later via a collection plate that was passed amongst the congregation Funds were used to repair the church or feed the poorest of the parish. The donation of coins is and was considered part of religious life and mentioned in Christian, Jewish and Islamic texts. With the need and expansion of charitable works occurring outside religious life, charity boxes began to spread into hospitals, orphanages and asylums. The need for non-fixed boxes grew with the rise in charities and their activities outside a fixed building. Collection boxes could be large (and therefore hard to move) or could be held by individuals acting as collection agents, working at a specific location, moving between dwellings or at events. In this example, the Blind Babies tin could have be used at Carols by Candlelight, White Cane day or other special marketing days.3 metal coin collection tin with paper wrapFront: For the Blind Babies Children and Adults of the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind 557 St Kilda Road, Prahran Side: As a thanksgiving for sight! (Drawing of a man holding his hand to his eyes as a blast occurs in front of him, pushing small objects towards his body) It might hit You or Me! Side: As a thanksgiving for sight! (Elaine Leahy facing towards the RVIB gates). The gates of the Institute are always open to welcome all eligible blind babies, children and adults who seek, and never fail to receive, its aid.royal victorian institute for the blind, fundraising

From 1979, the John Wilson Award was awarded to individuals who made a significant difference to the lives of those around them. To publicly acknowledge this, a signboard was established and hung at the Kooyong Centre. The top of the board was inscribed with the words 'Vision Australia Foundation' and the eye logo is located in the top left-hand corner. Below this is written: "The following recipients have made a notable contribution towards blind and vision impaired people. 1979 Agnes M. Tweedie, 1980 Elizabeth I. Lindsay, 1981 Flora Douglas, 1982 Edna Wilson, 1983 Herbert J. Brumby, 1984 Joanne Trumble, 1985 Arthur Nothling, 1986 Colin & Margaret Fox, 1987 Katharine M. Rose, 1988 Bryan G. Sitlington, 1989 Edna Swanson, 1990 Ellena F. Little, 1991 Neil McCrae, 1992 Lillian Dethridge, 1993 John A. Blanch, 1994 Winsome Baker, 1995 Barry Farnsworth, 1996 Harold Gration, 1997 Merle Wootten, 1998 Norma Crook, 1999 Thelma Royal, 2000 Neil & Elizabeth Maxwell, 2001 Elaine Leahy, 2002 Norman & Bernice Anderson, 2003 Gwladys Jeavons, 2004 Eve Lustig, 2005 Shirley Admans.Wooden board with frame and gold letteringawards, vision australia foundation, association for the blind

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: a rocking chair gifted to Alice McClelland on her 60th year of involvement, retirement of Merle Griffin, 'Please Touch' exhibition at National Gallery of Victoria, creation of the Benalla Studio - funded by the Benalla Auxiliary and able to accommodate 3-4 people in a session, Margaret Ingham appointed Children's Book Specialist, renaming of existing studios to R Graeme Orr Studios (to honour former President), Library Talk commended at Public Relations Awards given by Australian Library Promotions Council, visit by children's television character 'Norm the Kangaroo' who filmed a segment of 'Shirl's Neighbourhood' around the building, thanks for Joyce Nicholson, Barrett Reid and Dr Stephen Murray-Smith as Award Selection Panel for Braille Book of the Year, need for newer building as Commercial Road premises are expensive to heat and light and all available space is occupied, book bounty scheme available for braille and audio books, Louis Braille Productions Ltd set up as a subsidary company, book reading broadcasts by ABC shows will be donated free of charge, inaugural children's catalogue of Braille books produced, resignations of Dr Simon Haskell and David Hume, appointment of Elaine Leahy and Norm Fidge, and death of Maxene Hewitt and establishment of children's book collection known as 'The Maxene Hewett Collection for Children' in her honour. There is also a photograph and staff listing as part of the annual report.1 volume of text and illustrationsbraille & talking book library, hector bathurst, maxene hewitt, alice mcclelland, alison forbes, jan smark, norm the kangaroo, nick gleeson, john poliness, andrew turk, merle griffen, gladys fanning, e.e. haynes, janene morrison, beverley jackson, dianna martin, margaret komen, penny crawford, merrie handbury, shirley robinson, sue hanson, faye donnelly, jane grimwade, jennifer spry, iris whittaker, john cockayne, martin nicol, jan odle, peter sellars, paul korsten, blanche d'alpuget, luu ngac hua, sir brian murray, warren horton, robert miller, sydney alderson

Coin collections have a long and varied history. Coins were often collected in churches in a box located near the entrance/exit, and later via a collection plate that was passed amongst the congregation Funds were used to repair the church or feed the poorest of the parish. The donation of coins is and was considered part of religious life and mentioned in Christian, Jewish and Islamic texts. With the need and expansion of charitable works occurring outside religious life, charity boxes began to spread into hospitals, orphanages and asylums. The need for non-fixed boxes grew with the rise in charities and their activities outside a fixed building. Collection boxes could be large (and therefore hard to move) or could be held by individuals acting as collection agents, working at a specific location, moving between dwellings or at events. In this example, the older Blind Babies tin has been wrapped with a modern RVIB wrapper, which could be used at Carols by Candlelight, White Cane day or other special marketing days.1 metal coin collection tin with paper wrapWrapper: Your Donation Supports the Work of the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind RVIB lighthouse logo 557 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Telephone 9577 3341 Old label Front: For the Blind Babies Children and Adults of the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind 557 St Kilda Road, Prahran Side: As a thanksgiving for sight! (Drawing of a man holding his hand to his eyes as a blast occurs in front of him, pushing small objects towards his body) It might hit You or Me! Side: As a thanksgiving for sight! (Elaine Leahy facing towards the RVIB gates). The gates of the Institute are always open to welcome all eligible blind babies, children and adults who seek, and never fail to receive, its aid.royal victorian institute for the blind, fundraising

The buildings at Kooyong have undergone various re-modelling and redesign over the years. These plaques commemorate the dual activities taking place at the Kooyong Centre, as it strove to adapt to the increasing need for technological support and the changes in information, day centre and supports needed by the blind and vision impaired community. These plaques were located in the corridor between reception and the day centre, but were dismantled during renovations in 2018.This plaque commemorates the start of construction of Vision Australia Foundation's information and technology facilities and was unveiled by Mr D R Argus AO, Patron Vision Australia Foundation, Chairman, Centenary Appeal in recognition of all who made this development possible for the lasting benefit of people who are blind or have severe sight loss. 27 March 2000, Malcolm Daubney, President. John Cook, Chief Executive Officer. This plaque commemorates the official opening of Vision Australia Foundation's Kooyong Centre by John Landy, AC, MBIE, Governor of Victoria, 11 October 2001. Building Donors: Don Argus, AO - Appeal Chairman, Shirley Admans, Amcor Limited, Aspect Consulting Pty Ltd, Atalina Nomines Pty Ltd, Robert Bosch (Aust) Pty Ltd, The William Buckland Foundation, Cadbury Schweppes Australia Ltd, Terry Cocks OAM, Coles Myer Ltd, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Consolidated Paper Industries, John & Beverley Cook, The Craftsman Press Pty Ltd, Norma Crook, CSR Limited, Malcolm & Beverley Daubney, Don Draffin, Sir Andrew & Lady Fairley Foundation, Ford Motor Co. of Australia Ltd, Fortis Australia Ltd, Gandel Charitable Trust, Harold Gration, Dept of Health & Community Services, Peter Isaacson Publications Pty Ltd, Kayarem Pty Ltd, Kooyong Auxiliary, Kooyong Fair Committee, Lady Joan Law-Smith, Elaine Leahy, Eve & Lewis Lustig, Henry Malycon, Ann Miller, John Moule AM, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, AC DBE, Sidney Myer Fund, National Australia Bank, Pacific Dunlop Ltd, Raleigh Paper Co Pty Ltd, Lady Catherine Ramsay, Rothschild Australia Ltd, Shell Australia Ltd, Slade & Partners, Springfield Auxiliary, Ian Roach AO, Rotary Club of Albert Park, Rotary Club of Hawthorn, The Top Opp Volunteers, Sir Donald & Lady Trescowthick Foundation Ltd, Graham Upton, John Wall OAM, John Wicking AM, Ian & Beverley Wilson, Woodside Petroleum Ltd.vision australia foundation, nameplates